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The 21st Reunion of the 1950-1969 Crews of

October 11-13, 2007 Canton, Ohio

Hosts: George & Dorothy Davis and Miles & Jane Waggoner

George Davis

Dorothy Davis

Miles Waggoner

Jane Waggoner

I

In beautiful October weather, 20 Whitehurst veterans with wives, companions, or family, gathered at the Holiday Inn, Canton, Ohio, to renew acquaintances, tell sea stories, and talk old times. The group included one plank owner, WWII veteran, Emory Miller, andone veteran from the 1960s, Stan Paulsen. One of the group, Al Crawford, helped the ship back into commission in 1950 when it was called up for the Korean War. All other attending veterans served
on board between 1951 & 1959.

We were honored with the presence of several guests. Alice Hasty, widow of Shipmate Roy Hasty, and her children, Linda, Janet, and Roy jr, as well as Scott Paulsen who accompanied his father, Stan and Emory Miller who helped put the ship into commission in 1943, then served the remaining months of WWII as a Torpedoman onboard.

We were disappointed that Gene and Jayne Avery, who had made their reservations, were stranded in Philadelphia due to airline difficulties. Unable to get a flight to Canton, their only alternative was a return flight home.

Check in started Thursday afternoon. Everyone immediately went to the fellowship room welcome packages prepared by Jane Waggoner awaited everyone.

ReU-2007 Attendees

Glen & Doris Anderson, Warren Blakely, Charlie Boerjan, Robert &
Kathy Carter, Al & Eileen Crawford, Dick Cromer & Betty Ringanese,
Max & Chris Crow, George & Dorothy Davis, Dick & Sally Dixon,
Bill & Sissy Evelo, Ron & Joanne Gregg, Alice Hasty, Roy Jr., Linda,
& Janet, James & Gloria Holmes, James & Ann Houser, Emory Miller,
Jack & Mary Nettles, Stan & Scott Paulsen Robert & Ruth Penny,
Arnold & Gladys Pettijohn, Don & Ruth Smith, Ken & Eleanor Whitehurst,
Jane Waggoner.

Friday began with breakfast in the hotel dining room and a Bus Tour to
The Amish Country. First stop, the Cheese Factory where we enjoyed a
expert description of the operation, Cheese Tasting, and the gift shop.

At the Cheese Factory. The speaker is hidden, far left.

From the Winery, we took the bus to the River Greens Golf course which
is owned by our hosts George & Dorothy. Their daughter Lynn had
prepared an excellent buffet meal at the course club house.

In the Dinning Room at River Greens

Betty Ringanese, Dick Cromer & Eileen Crawford are recognizable in the left photo.
On right is George Davis, his daughter Lynn, and son Doug, who is the Golf Pro at the
family operated course.

Next stop was the Warther's Carving Museum & Knife Factory and the Button House.

t was a fascinating museum featuring precise scale carvings of locomotives,
railway cars, and moving displays. The Button house displays the 70,000
buttons collected by the Carver's wife. We also visited the knife factory which
is the commercial piece of the operation.

It was a fascinating museum featuring precise scale carvings of locomotives,
railway cars, and moving displays. The Button house displays the 70,000
buttons collected by the Carver's wife. We also visited the knife factory which
is the commercial piece of the operation.

Saturday morning found us on the bus again, headed to Akron and a tour of the
Stan Hywet House. That is the name chosen by Seiberlings for their 65 room
mansion and Gardens. It was built in the early 1900s and had many technical
advances for its time.

Saturday afternoon the veterans conducted a business meeting, and selected
the host and site of the 2008 reunion. Arnold Pettijohn will plan the event
for about the same time next year in El Paso, Texas. Max Crow, who just
happens to know his way around that big West Texas city will assist.

George Davis, Host, Introduces Alice Hasty

Alice Hasty

Al Crawford Introduces Emory Miller

Al Crawford introduces Emory Miller

Saturday Evening: The closing banquet was served at the hotel. After the meal,
Host, George Davis opened the podium. Alice Hasty, who with her late husband
Roy, had attended most if not all our reunions, spoke to us briefly of her appre-
ciation the reunions and the friendship of Roy's shipmates. Al Crawford then
introduced Whitehurst Plank Owner, Emory Miller who told us of the Suicide
Bomber attack, April 12, 1945. As he spoke of the plane striking the port side
of the superstructure, the fires, the men trying to escape the burning Radio
Shack and Bridge, and the downing of another Suicide Bomber attacking from
dead astern, it was clear that even after 60 + years it was still painful to
talk about.

Special note by site author: Mr. Miller modestly told of how Gunners mate
William Eisenhower shot down a dive bomber coming in directly astern. He
gave the Gunner all the credit, although he himself had spotted the plane coming
in and called the gunner's attention to it. Whitehurst lost 42 men in that attack.
Were it not for the alertness of Emory Miller and the skills of William Eisenhower,
many more would have been lost. This story is posted in the WWII section of
this web site. Click the link to read it. Suicide Bomber Shot Down

Phollowing fotos by Sally Dixon

Sunday morning, October 14. Checkout and goodbyes. We hope to see each other
again in 2008, El Paso, Texas, where Arnold Pettijohn & "yours truly" will host our
reunion. mc

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The 21st Reunion of the 1950-1969 Crews of
October 11-13, 2007 Canton, Ohio

Hosts: George & Dorothy Davis and Miles & Jane Waggoner

George Davis	Dorothy Davis

Miles Waggoner	Jane Waggoner



I In beautiful October weather, 20 Whitehurst veterans with wives, companions, or family, gathered at the Holiday Inn, Canton, Ohio, to renew acquaintances, tell sea stories, and talk old times. The group included one plank owner, WWII veteran, Emory Miller, andone veteran from the 1960s, Stan Paulsen. One of the group, Al Crawford, helped the ship back into commission in 1950 when it was called up for the Korean War. All other attending veterans served on board between 1951 & 1959. We were honored with the presence of several guests. Alice Hasty, widow of Shipmate Roy Hasty, and her children, Linda, Janet, and Roy jr, as well as Scott Paulsen who accompanied his father, Stan and Emory Miller who helped put the ship into commission in 1943, then served the remaining months of WWII as a Torpedoman onboard. We were disappointed that Gene and Jayne Avery, who had made their reservations, were stranded in Philadelphia due to airline difficulties. Unable to get a flight to Canton, their only alternative was a return flight home. Check in started Thursday afternoon. Everyone immediately went to the fellowship room welcome packages prepared by Jane Waggoner awaited everyone.



ReU-2007 Attendees

Glen & Doris Anderson, Warren Blakely, Charlie Boerjan, Robert & Kathy Carter, Al & Eileen Crawford, Dick Cromer & Betty Ringanese, Max & Chris Crow, George & Dorothy Davis, Dick & Sally Dixon, Bill & Sissy Evelo, Ron & Joanne Gregg, Alice Hasty, Roy Jr., Linda, & Janet, James & Gloria Holmes, James & Ann Houser, Emory Miller, Jack & Mary Nettles, Stan & Scott Paulsen Robert & Ruth Penny, Arnold & Gladys Pettijohn, Don & Ruth Smith, Ken & Eleanor Whitehurst, Jane Waggoner.

Friday began with breakfast in the hotel dining room and a Bus Tour to The Amish Country. First stop, the Cheese Factory where we enjoyed a expert description of the operation, Cheese Tasting, and the gift shop.

At the Cheese Factory. The speaker is hidden, far left.

















From the Winery, we took the bus to the River Greens Golf course which is owned by our hosts George & Dorothy. Their daughter Lynn had prepared an excellent buffet meal at the course club house.

In the Dinning Room at River Greens
Betty Ringanese, Dick Cromer & Eileen Crawford are recognizable in the left photo. On right is George Davis, his daughter Lynn, and son Doug, who is the Golf Pro at the family operated course.

Next stop was the Warther's Carving Museum & Knife Factory and the Button House.

t was a fascinating museum featuring precise scale carvings of locomotives, railway cars, and moving displays. The Button house displays the 70,000 buttons collected by the Carver's wife. We also visited the knife factory which is the commercial piece of the operation.










It was a fascinating museum featuring precise scale carvings of locomotives, railway cars, and moving displays. The Button house displays the 70,000 buttons collected by the Carver's wife. We also visited the knife factory which is the commercial piece of the operation.

Saturday morning found us on the bus again, headed to Akron and a tour of the Stan Hywet House. That is the name chosen by Seiberlings for their 65 room mansion and Gardens. It was built in the early 1900s and had many technical advances for its time.










Saturday afternoon the veterans conducted a business meeting, and selected the host and site of the 2008 reunion. Arnold Pettijohn will plan the event for about the same time next year in El Paso, Texas. Max Crow, who just happens to know his way around that big West Texas city will assist.

George Davis, Host, Introduces Alice Hasty

Alice Hasty	Al Crawford Introduces Emory Miller

Al Crawford introduces Emory Miller

Saturday Evening: The closing banquet was served at the hotel. After the meal, Host, George Davis opened the podium. Alice Hasty, who with her late husband Roy, had attended most if not all our reunions, spoke to us briefly of her appre- ciation the reunions and the friendship of Roy's shipmates. Al Crawford then introduced Whitehurst Plank Owner, Emory Miller who told us of the Suicide Bomber attack, April 12, 1945. As he spoke of the plane striking the port side of the superstructure, the fires, the men trying to escape the burning Radio Shack and Bridge, and the downing of another Suicide Bomber attacking from dead astern, it was clear that even after 60 + years it was still painful to talk about. Special note by site author: Mr. Miller modestly told of how Gunners mate William Eisenhower shot down a dive bomber coming in directly astern. He gave the Gunner all the credit, although he himself had spotted the plane coming in and called the gunner's attention to it. Whitehurst lost 42 men in that attack. Were it not for the alertness of Emory Miller and the skills of William Eisenhower, many more would have been lost. This story is posted in the WWII section of this web site. Click the link to read it. Suicide Bomber Shot Down



















Phollowing fotos by Sally Dixon
































Sunday morning, October 14. Checkout and goodbyes. We hope to see each other again in 2008, El Paso, Texas, where Arnold Pettijohn & "yours truly" will host our reunion. mc